diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker.yml b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
index be897aa82d6..0b2ef9b9bc2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - id: set_matrix
         run: |
-          MATRIX_CONFIG=$(if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" ]; then echo '["dev", "lean"]'; else echo '["dev", "lean", "websocket", "dockerize", "py311", "py312"]'; fi)
+          MATRIX_CONFIG=$(if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" ]; then echo '["superset", "dev", "lean"]'; else echo '["superset", "dev", "lean", "websocket", "dockerize", "py311", "py312"]'; fi)
           echo "matrix_config=${MATRIX_CONFIG}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ jobs:
               exit 1
             fi
           }
-          for preset in dev lean websocket dockerize; do
+          for preset in superset dev lean websocket dockerize; do
             assert_effective_py_ver "$preset" "3.11.14-slim-trixie"
           done
           assert_effective_py_ver py311 "3.11-slim-bookworm"
@@ -226,7 +226,9 @@ jobs:
       # different tool from a different maintainer with no shared supply
       # chain, and is already on the ASF Infra GitHub Actions allowlist.
       - name: Scan built image for vulnerabilities
-        if: github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' && matrix.build_preset == 'lean'
+        if: >-
+          github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' &&
+          contains(fromJson('["superset", "lean"]'), matrix.build_preset)
         id: grype-scan
         # This step's own failure (e.g. a transient issue pulling the Grype
         # vulnerability DB) must not fail docker-build, matching the
@@ -246,22 +248,29 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload vulnerability scan results to GitHub Security tab
         if: >-
           github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' &&
-          matrix.build_preset == 'lean' && steps.grype-scan.outputs.sarif != ''
+          contains(fromJson('["superset", "lean"]'), matrix.build_preset) &&
+          steps.grype-scan.outputs.sarif != ''
         continue-on-error: true
         uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@cdf488f595d80d6e07e03d4674febd5ab45fa938 # v4.37.9
         with:
           sarif_file: ${{ steps.grype-scan.outputs.sarif }}
+          # Both `superset` and `lean` are scanned now; without a distinct
+          # category per preset they would land under the same code-scanning
+          # entry and one build_preset's findings would overwrite the
+          # other's, mirroring the per-language category in
+          # codeql-analysis.yml.
+          category: "docker-${{ matrix.build_preset }}"
 
       - name: WebSocket server smoke test
-        if: contains(fromJson('["lean", "dev"]'), matrix.build_preset)
+        if: contains(fromJson('["superset", "lean", "dev"]'), matrix.build_preset)
         shell: bash
         run: |
           # The realtime WebSocket server is bundled in the official image and
           # launched via an alternate entrypoint; verify the bundled Node runtime
           # starts it and it serves /health. (A JWT secret >= 32 bytes is required
           # or the server refuses to start; no Redis is needed for /health.)
-          # Both presets are checked because docker-compose-non-dev.yml runs the
-          # websocket service from the dev target.
+          # All app-image presets are checked because docker-compose-non-dev.yml
+          # runs the websocket service from the dev target.
           docker run -d --name superset-ws \
             -e JWT_SECRET="ci-smoke-test-secret-ci-smoke-test-secret" \
             -e PORT=8080 -p 8080:8080 \
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scheduled-docker-image-refresh.yml b/.github/workflows/scheduled-docker-image-refresh.yml
index 6e8fe938000..bb82dfd6605 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/scheduled-docker-image-refresh.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/scheduled-docker-image-refresh.yml
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ jobs:
       # Mirror the same matrix the release publisher uses so every variant
       # operators consume from Docker Hub gets the refreshed base.
       matrix:
-        build_preset: ["dev", "lean", "websocket", "dockerize", "py311", "py312"]
+        build_preset: ["superset", "dev", "lean", "websocket", "dockerize", "py311", "py312"]
       fail-fast: false
     steps:
       - name: "Checkout release tag: ${{ needs.config.outputs.latest-release }}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml b/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml
index d7a893ddbce..72632e76b12 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         build_preset:
-          ["dev", "lean", "websocket", "dockerize", "py311", "py312"]
+          ["superset", "dev", "lean", "websocket", "dockerize", "py311", "py312"]
       fail-fast: false
     steps:
       - name: "Checkout ${{ github.ref }} ( ${{ github.sha }} )"
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d0c370e2ca1..d49ce307d6e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -289,6 +289,43 @@ RUN python -m compileall /app/superset
 
 USER superset
 
+######################################################################
+# Batteries-included default image: lean + common drivers, MCP and a
+# headless Chromium. This is the image published under the plain tags
+# (latest, master, <version>); the minimal image ships as `lean`.
+######################################################################
+FROM lean AS superset
+USER root
+
+# mysqlclient needs the MySQL client dev headers + pkg-config to build.
+# python-common already installs the libs for postgres/sasl/ldap, so only
+# the MySQL bits are added here — the minimal `lean` stage stays untouched.
+RUN /app/docker/apt-install.sh \
+    pkg-config \
+    default-libmysqlclient-dev
+
+# Bundle the common metadata/analytics drivers (postgres, mysql) and the
+# MCP server dependencies (fastmcp) so the default image is usable without
+# layering extra packages. Routed through pip-install.sh because mysqlclient
+# is a source dist that needs a C compiler to build; the helper installs
+# build-essential just for the build and purges it afterward (the lean base
+# ships no compiler). The mysql client lib installed above stays, so the
+# compiled extension can link against it at runtime.
+RUN --mount=type=cache,target=${SUPERSET_HOME}/.cache/uv \
+    /app/docker/pip-install.sh --requires-build-essential .[postgres,mysql,fastmcp]
+
+# Bundle Playwright + a headless Chromium so Alerts & Reports and thumbnail
+# generation work out of the box. Installed directly (rather than via the
+# INCLUDE_CHROMIUM build arg on python-common) because this stage builds
+# FROM lean, which is already past that arg. Chromium ships for both
+# linux/amd64 and linux/arm64, so this works on multi-platform builds.
+RUN --mount=type=cache,target=${SUPERSET_HOME}/.cache/uv \
+    uv pip install playwright \
+    && playwright install-deps \
+    && playwright install chromium
+
+USER superset
+
 ######################################################################
 # Dev image...
 ######################################################################
diff --git a/UPDATING.md b/UPDATING.md
index 96b9d0a82ac..b2cd0e8da84 100644
--- a/UPDATING.md
+++ b/UPDATING.md
@@ -24,6 +24,29 @@ assists people when migrating to a new version.
 
 ## Next
 
+### Default Docker image is now batteries-included; the minimal image moves to `-lean`
+
+The default `apache/superset` Docker image (the plain tags: `latest`, `master`,
+`5.0.0`, per-SHA) is now a batteries-included, production-grade image. It bundles
+the common metadata/analytics drivers (`psycopg2-binary` for PostgreSQL,
+`mysqlclient` for MySQL), the MCP server dependencies (`fastmcp`), and a headless
+Chromium (via Playwright) for Alerts & Reports and thumbnail generation. It still
+runs as the non-root `superset` user and is byte-compiled like before.
+
+The previous minimal image — with **no** database drivers — is still published,
+but under `-lean` tags: `latest-lean`, `master-lean`, `5.0.0-lean`, `<sha>-lean`.
+
+**What operators should expect:**
+
+- **The default image is larger** (several hundred MB more) because it ships a
+  headless Chromium and extra drivers. If you were relying on the minimal default
+  and layering your own drivers, switch your base image to the corresponding
+  `-lean` tag (for example `FROM apache/superset:master` becomes
+  `FROM apache/superset:master-lean`) to keep the previous footprint.
+- **No config change is required** for most deployments; the metadata-database
+  drivers most installations need are now present out of the box.
+- The `-dev` images (`latest-dev`, `master-dev`, …) are unchanged.
+
 ### Report capture readiness is rechecked immediately before screenshots
 
 Scheduled report and alert captures require chart readiness to remain stable
diff --git a/docker-compose-image-tag.yml b/docker-compose-image-tag.yml
index 265499e0cde..1c65dfbd0cc 100644
--- a/docker-compose-image-tag.yml
+++ b/docker-compose-image-tag.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 # For verbose logging during development:
 # - Set SUPERSET_LOG_LEVEL=debug in docker/.env-local for detailed Superset logs
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-x-superset-image: &superset-image apachesuperset.docker.scarf.sh/apache/superset:${TAG:-latest-dev}
+x-superset-image: &superset-image apachesuperset.docker.scarf.sh/apache/superset:${TAG:-latest}
 x-superset-volumes:
   &superset-volumes # /app/pythonpath_docker will be appended to the PYTHONPATH in the final container
   - ./docker:/app/docker
diff --git a/docker-compose-light.yml b/docker-compose-light.yml
index 52bb23c5b51..61077f9a87a 100644
--- a/docker-compose-light.yml
+++ b/docker-compose-light.yml
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ x-superset-volumes: &superset-volumes
   - ./tests:/app/tests
 x-common-build: &common-build
   context: .
-  target: ${SUPERSET_BUILD_TARGET:-dev} # can use `dev` (default) or `lean`
+  target: ${SUPERSET_BUILD_TARGET:-dev} # dev (default, live-reload); also `superset` (batteries-included) or `lean` (minimal)
   cache_from:
     - apache/superset-cache:3.11-slim-trixie
   args:
diff --git a/docker-compose-non-dev.yml b/docker-compose-non-dev.yml
index 5370a42900d..8032c44b231 100644
--- a/docker-compose-non-dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose-non-dev.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ x-superset-volumes:
 
 x-common-build: &common-build
   context: .
-  target: dev
+  # Build the batteries-included production image (the default `apache/superset`
+  # tags), not the `dev` image: this compose runs a prod-like stack from source,
+  # and `superset` bundles the metadata/analytics drivers it needs.
+  target: superset
   cache_from:
     - apache/superset-cache:3.11-slim-trixie
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 0ce3d27d9fa..ac9ddd77ed4 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ x-superset-volumes: &superset-volumes
   - ./local_extensions:/app/local_extensions
 x-common-build: &common-build
   context: .
-  target: ${SUPERSET_BUILD_TARGET:-dev} # can use `dev` (default) or `lean`
+  target: ${SUPERSET_BUILD_TARGET:-dev} # dev (default, live-reload); also `superset` (batteries-included) or `lean` (minimal)
   cache_from:
     - apache/superset-cache:3.11-slim-trixie
   args:
diff --git a/docs/admin_docs/installation/docker-builds.mdx b/docs/admin_docs/installation/docker-builds.mdx
index 2f38b27e901..6da9decfb77 100644
--- a/docs/admin_docs/installation/docker-builds.mdx
+++ b/docs/admin_docs/installation/docker-builds.mdx
@@ -30,13 +30,19 @@ for the build, and/or base image.
 
 Here are the build presets that are exposed through the `supersetbot docker` utility:
 
-- `lean`: The default Docker image, including both frontend and backend. Tags
-  without a build_preset are lean builds (ie: `latest`, `5.0.0`, `4.1.2`, ...). `lean`
-  builds do not contain database
-  drivers, meaning you need to install your own. That applies to analytics databases **AND
-  the metadata database**. You'll likely want to layer either `mysqlclient` or `psycopg2-binary`
-  depending on the metadata database you choose for your installation, plus the required
-  drivers to connect to your analytics database(s).
+- `superset`: The default Docker image, including both frontend and backend. Tags
+  without a build_preset suffix are `superset` builds (ie: `latest`, `5.0.0`, `4.1.2`, ...).
+  It bundles the common metadata/analytics drivers (`psycopg2-binary` for PostgreSQL and
+  `mysqlclient` for MySQL), the MCP server dependencies, and a headless Chromium (via
+  Playwright) for Alerts & Reports and thumbnail generation, so it is usable out of the box.
+  You'll still need to layer any additional drivers required to connect to your specific
+  analytics database(s).
+- `lean`: A minimal image, including both frontend and backend but **no database
+  drivers** — published under `-lean` tags (ie: `latest-lean`, `5.0.0-lean`, `master-lean`).
+  That applies to analytics databases **AND the metadata database**, so you'll need to
+  layer either `mysqlclient` or `psycopg2-binary` depending on the metadata database you
+  choose, plus the required drivers to connect to your analytics database(s). Use this when
+  you want the smallest possible image and full control over what gets installed.
 - `dev`: For development, with a headless browser, dev-related utilities and root access. This
   includes some commonly used database drivers like `mysqlclient`, `psycopg2-binary` and
   some other used for development/CI
@@ -47,11 +53,15 @@ Here are the build presets that are exposed through the `supersetbot docker` uti
 
 ## Key tags examples
 
-- `latest`: The latest official release build
+- `latest`: The latest official release build, batteries-included (common drivers, MCP and
+  a headless browser).
+- `latest-lean`: the minimal variant of the latest official release build, with no database
+  drivers.
 - `latest-dev`: the `-dev` image of the latest official release build, with a
   headless browser and root access.
-- `master`: The latest build from the `master` branch, implicitly the lean build
-  preset
+- `master`: The latest build from the `master` branch, implicitly the `superset` (default)
+  build preset
+- `master-lean`: Similar to `master` but the minimal variant with no database drivers.
 - `master-dev`: Similar to `master` but includes a headless browser and root access.
 - `pr-5252`: The latest commit in PR 5252.
 - `30948dc401b40982cb7c0dbf6ebbe443b2748c1b-dev`: A build for
@@ -65,8 +75,11 @@ GitHub action.
 
 ## Building your own production Docker image
 
-Every Superset deployment will require its own set of drivers depending on the data warehouse(s),
-etc. so we recommend that users build their own Docker image by extending the `lean` image.
+The default `apache/superset` image already bundles the common metadata/analytics drivers
+(`psycopg2-binary`, `mysqlclient`), the MCP server dependencies and a headless Chromium, so
+for many deployments no custom image is needed. You'll still want to build your own image when
+you need additional analytics database drivers, or when you prefer to start from the minimal
+`-lean` image and install only what you need.
 
 Here's an example Dockerfile that does this. Follow the in-line comments to customize it for
 your desired Superset version and database drivers. The comments also note that a certain feature flag will
@@ -75,9 +88,10 @@ have to be enabled in your config file.
 You would build the image with `docker build -t mysuperset:latest .` or `docker build -t ourcompanysuperset:5.0.0 .`
 
 ```Dockerfile
-# change this to apache/superset:5.0.0 or whatever version you want to build from;
-# otherwise the default is the latest commit on GitHub master branch
-FROM apache/superset:master
+# Start from the minimal lean image (no drivers) and add exactly what you need,
+# or start from apache/superset:master to build on top of the batteries-included
+# default (which already has psycopg2-binary, mysqlclient, MCP and Playwright).
+FROM apache/superset:master-lean
 
 USER root
 
@@ -183,14 +197,15 @@ To accelerate builds, we follow Docker best practices and use `apache/superset-c
 
 ## About database drivers
 
-Our docker images come with little to zero database driver support since
-each environment requires different drivers, and maintaining a build with
-wide database support would be both challenging (dozens of databases,
-python drivers, and os dependencies) and inefficient (longer
-build times, larger images, lower layer cache hit rate, ...).
+The default `apache/superset` image bundles the drivers most deployments need for their
+metadata database — `psycopg2-binary` (PostgreSQL) and `mysqlclient` (MySQL) — but it does
+not attempt to cover every analytics database, since maintaining wide database support would
+be both challenging (dozens of databases, python drivers, and os dependencies) and
+inefficient (longer build times, larger images, lower layer cache hit rate, ...).
 
-For production use cases, we recommend that you derive our `lean` image(s) and
-add database support for the database you need.
+The `-lean` image(s) deliberately ship with **no** database drivers at all. For deployments
+that want the smallest possible footprint, or need drivers beyond the bundled defaults, we
+recommend deriving from the `-lean` image and adding exactly the database support you need.
 
 ## On supporting different platforms (namely arm64 AND amd64)